New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-05-24
SAYLNG POLITICS ARE AT SEA.
GEORGE W. CURTIS ON THE OUTLOOK.


SPEECH TO TIE COMMONWEALTH CLCB-HAhDbol
on DEMOCRACY
Tho Commonwealth Club gave its monthly dinner last
night at the Metropolitan Hotel About one hundred
and fifty gentlemen were present ID. Willis James pre-
sided On his right sat George William Curtis and on his
left Orlando b. Potter. Among other prominent per-
SONS present Dorman B. Eaton Postmaster Pearson
Thomas G. Sherman. Everett p. wheeler, Henry L.
sprague, Henry A. Oakley, Matthew Hale, William f.
Dodge Thatcher ~ Adams Charles l. Brace and John
u. Pyne The club has existed about six months and
each month dinner is held at the conclusion OF which
an address Is delivered by some ono previously desSnat
cd upon the political affairs oDer Of the state or Natoh
Everything attending the event Is informal even to the
dress OF the participants who appear in their ordinary
street or business attire IL is, In fact one
OF those occasions in which, by the time the speeches
are reached, the speaker is either ready to deny
his partisan identity in the OF good feeling or can
entertain his audience by turning handsprngs upon boh
sides Of the fence and wind up at last amid unanimous
applause.
1t was few minutes after O'Clock when Mr.. James
called the assembly order and introduced the orator
OF the evening" George William Curtis who was 10
speak upon "The Political Situation" Mr.. Curtis re-
feed his presence the first meeting of the club aud
to the general principles upon which its existence was
based. He went on to say:
Here is club composed Of gentlemen Of al parties who
entertain differing views OF all public questions KNOW
yey wen ne charm o. party m Iroue 4a H nothing
than o. my connee on With that party Which,
has done more Tor human liberty and for every RoPpr
lAfpansel But important as party Is Their
able 4msrcan nGepSpGence oi party George washington
an 40 gnof nj 3 debs:ns impulse public action lofty
and ennobng influence that mere party spirit s nerGe
heat The one principle upon which TIL, cub z formed Is
o. That reform restoration OF party in arspG6S to
It's legitimate Junction when rs ooS part ~ 1e PCns
very The suss vital and oyerpowering The g Gss
country business of parties now Is TO carry
Sav ' sSd Of party Srg 2' that Of the Old
and Of as S Ws sgpea S .od be nom
year s already good elected APp3Gss
o in tho Whs dn Gai be 81 HG party he
woa f run IKE oye%b s bs bs woai sweep the
II Mr. Blaine ami Mr. Cleveland should DO nominated
SS TGpS o G Situation Gs oSsnS tho
Who's, ass:d when Ne Ss u 20 ts closet doo and
replied the night g cIceeingy dark and smells very
'' SoEs R ' Ts hing tasi who
owned by ts Ropn6hcans .lAgghter, Is that nds
Is very sad condition, can fnor ony if Fyen
he'll has lts eStreno satsineuono Laughter The great
are G8T snd dset poey upon any
ing guesnons am tod the Democrats PcfV aiortY in tho
declined to take any :f
ts: mot eIpereneed men n public me- tells Ms OF the
doctrine OF the RepnDcan party think II Is only
little %Sss than sT Ton S Of al least about 20
The question therefore, inevitably forces itself upon our
tho Republicans or do the Republicans 10 isot
that reduction thereby become democrats or does Mt ran
small reduction thereby become sepuo'
cans who OF civil service reform tha Drnis
Is the Democratic party party OF Cvil service reon
ne Pre- Democrat OF
character Amid innaiouaDo dineuiues he has bseh ron
out is convictions upon t SUI
isct Hut he hss enormous obsruetions and the most
enormous the Democratic parybtset lApp.AnseI 10 VIZ
Kentucky represent the policy and prinope
The Democratic party In tho Presidents own stg,e tno
Vepreseptauves IN the state LagsAtnre ireehy 70
turpsd from tho people with almost entire unannniy
IA nix there three e1cepuons-NOteu iot slo
reuesl Of INC Civil service Reform law.
doust aevcr In my mind there gross WRONGS prac
ti,ef ron tho freedmen IN some parts OF te
repugnant 20 humanity IN. ~
American principle, but both parties agrco 1A a.
T.meiy hos in tho states and in the United states
Courts aud therefore the question naturally dIOHs 0up
Of practical policies great pablo qeestion ne
ean party organized to promote hg PfOtecvn %
10 hamonire capital and labor, or 10 regulate he nquo.
traffic or 10 reform the Owl Service IL was Organized
"a ao and al the that sprung from and followed
slavery ana tho been settled The Union secure
THINK told no whom said thought the hepnbeah
nrospeot was little c0uded by the temperance 1uestOn
hui the Republicans say 70 the temperance pe1PIe
N ron leave ne ron best friends. But mere
vote Which cast 600 for Mayor IN this CITY vtuaI Us
pIace the Democratic party In Chicago ard repuda,ed
iucinuau Tic election OF 1888 VIII appeal 70 the
tive interests OF his country The attitude Of t1e Two gvs
arties Is necessarily o. ocmpromise lhefs 20
reat Guesilon Ike that OF slavery or the war Wen @
seI The result o. Me election VIII depend ven noe mo-
npon tie candidates than upon tho party That ho"n''